860H.002/251: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Yugoslav Government in Exile (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:30 p.m.]
Greek 129. I had a talk last night with the British Ambassador to Yugoslavia Stevenson who said that King Peter was informed by Mr. Churchill yesterday that the British Government may very soon request the dismissal of Mihailovitch from the Yugoslav Cabinet. Stevenson was much exercised over this and his failure to see Mr. Churchill before the King and prevent a disclosure which he feels to be premature. He said, however, that there can be no doubt of at [Page 1025] least passive aid having been given to the Germans by Mihailovitch in the way of not impeding German troop movements when this was possible.
Stevenson strongly emphasized the practical military value of support in political consequences, said that Tito would undoubtedly invoke the Atlantic Charter when the question of the regime arises after liberation. In connection with Russia’s interests he said he had asked the new Soviet Ambassador67 what his Government’s attitude is toward the King and he replied “Its attitude is shown by the fact that I am accredited to him”.
Finally Stevenson said that both the necessity and the difficulty of getting supplies to Tito are becoming critical as German forces are closing in on his headquarters from nearly every side and communications are open only from Tory routes. “May have to take to the woods.”
- Nikolai Vasilievich Novikov.↩